Few cars can turn as many heads as the Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series. Even on an island as flamboyant as Ibiza, this new Mercedes-Maybach is a dazzling celebration of modern extravagance.
Boasting an illuminated chrome-finished grille, two-tone paintwork and more cowhide than a season of Yellowstone, Mercedes-Maybach’s first-ever sports car takes the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 and gives it a full couture makeover. The bonnet alone features a pattern of Mercedes-Maybach monograms, elevated further by a central chrome fin and a gleaming ‘Medallion’ ornament.
Maybach (pronounced ‘my-back’, not ‘may-back’) is best known for building luxury limousines based on Mercedes-Benz models like the S-Class, EQS SUV and GLS. Founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach, the marque harks back to the golden age of coachbuilt automobiles – where craftsmanship reigned and status was hand-stitched.
Bought by Daimler-Benz in 1960, Maybach then disappeared for decades before a concept car was revealed at Tokyo Motor Show in 1997. The enormous 57 and 62 production limousines launched five years later, and today the brand has become a byword for ultra-luxury.
Marketed as ‘the sportiest model in Mercedes-Maybach history’, the first design concepts we’re getting to drive in Ibiza are from the special-edition Monogram Series. The White Ambience model is a new interpretation of the typical Mercedes-Maybach two-colour paintwork, with Obsidian Black on the bonnet and hood, then Opalite White Magno on the panel work below. The Red Ambience edition echoes the same design language, pairing Obsidian Black with a rich metallic Garnet Red. A wide array of further colours is available on request.
Both versions feature cabins swathed in crystal white Nappa leather embossed with a floral motif – the kind of hide that won’t take kindly to muddy paws, so best keep your cockapoo on your lap (preferably in the Mercedes-Maybach-liveried dog carrier, available as an accessory). The sense of opulence continues with chrome-backed seats and gleaming trim throughout – every surface feels reassuringly expensive to the touch.
Unlike rival convertibles, Mercedes-Maybach has dispensed with the pretence of back seats altogether. In their place sits an aerodynamic double-scoop that flows seamlessly into the boot lid, reinforcing the SL’s sculpted silhouette.
This is a true two-seater, not a token 2+2 – which means the kids stay at home. Then again, with its debut staged in Ibiza, the Mercedes-Maybach SL was never meant for the school run. It’s unashamedly adults-only.
As well as stainless-steel foot pedals and door sills, the sumptuous cabin is equipped with exceptionally comfortable, multi-adjustable seats and neck warmers. The latter are particularly useful in the UK when the temperatures can drop as low as the hood. Elsewhere, a giant Mercedes’ MBUX screen in the centre console offers access to a Burmester stereo so impressive Ushuaïa called: they want their sound system back.
Naturally, the SL 680 feels right at home gliding along the coastline of the Balearics’ most infamous party island. Roof down, sunglasses on – this is a drive made for open skies and ocean air. Wind noise is minimal, and the exhaust has been ‘noise-optimised’ to dial down the AMG SL 63’s trademark growl into something altogether more refined.
That serenity is thanks, in large part, to the SL’s clever ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension system, which uses hydraulics instead of conventional anti-roll bars to counteract body roll in real time – keeping things smooth, composed, and effortlessly controlled.
The four driving programmes – Comfort, Maybach, Sport and Individual – offer the expected range of dynamic settings. In Comfort and Maybach modes, a softened accelerator profile delivers a more measured, refined response to driver input.
Power is from a tweaked version of the AMG SL 63’s 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8, one that also features in various other performance Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG models. The unit pushes out 585hp and a healthy 800Nm of torque – great for overtaking when combined with the smooth-running, nine-speed auto gearbox.
Add all-wheel drive with an electronic rear differential and the Mercedes-Maybach SL offers excellent traction, even in slippery road conditions. Rear-wheel steering provides greater agility even at low speeds, especially useful parking in the narrow streets of downtown Portinatx.
The SL 680 will hit 62mph in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed capped at 162mph – a figure irrelevant for most drivers unless you plan a trip to the Autobahn.
The SL 680’s grille doesn’t hold back, either. If the AMG SL 63’s nose isn’t dazzling enough for you, this one boasts vertical slats flanked by illuminated Mercedes-Maybach lettering and frame, while the windscreen frame gleams in polished chrome. A rose-gold accent within the headlights adds a final note of flourish to the distinctive SL face.
At the rear, the attention to detail continues: Mercedes-Maybach logos appear within the taillights, while a bespoke rear apron, chrome trim and dedicated diffuser design complete the look. Even the tailpipes get the branding treatment. As for the wheels, buyers can choose between retro-inspired five-hole or intricate multi-spoke 21-inch forged alloys.
And what about that patterned bonnet? It was crafted using Mercedes-Maybach’s PixelPaint process – a technology inspired by inkjet printing. This cutting-edge system allows intricate designs and bespoke patterns to be applied directly to the bodywork with remarkable precision.
The print head houses more than 1,000 individually controlled nozzles, each capable of applying microscopic paint droplets – just 20 to 50 microns in size – at a rate of over 1,000 drops per second. The result? Flawless detailing without wasteful spray mist. Mercedes-Maybach says the process eliminates the need for labour-intensive masking or multiple paint passes, reducing waste and lowering emissions – a cleaner approach to creating automotive artistry.
“We wanted to surprise, inspire and excite our customers,” said Mercedes-Maybach chief Daniel Lescow at the launch. “With the SL Monogram Series we’re offering them the sportiest and most extravagant model we’ve ever created. It’s a true Mercedes-Maybach.
“The SL 680 opens up a whole new world of cruising in the open air. It combines a dynamic driving experience with everything that characterises a Mercedes-Maybach – skilled craftsmanship, high-quality materials and exquisite design details. In line with the brand philosophy, it offers a holistic, sensual experience.”
And the SL 680 certainly delivers – from its sustainably tanned leather to its liberal use of chrome. For those who feel the logos on the bonnet aren’t enough, there’s also an accessories line to match: think sneakers, scarves and a coordinating leather jacket.
See you at the club.
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For more information: mercedes-benz.co.uk
